by Daniel Stefanski | May 4, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican proposal to help mental health needs of Arizonans was signed into law by the state’s governor.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1062 into law. The legislation will “expand the practice of substance abuse counseling to include treatment for all forms of addiction that are a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance, [and] reduce, from three to one, the number of years in which a behavioral health professional seeking licensure by endorsement through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners must be licensed or certified in at least one other state or federal jurisdiction.”
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, the bill’s sponsor, took a victory lap after the governor’s positive action. He said, “According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Arizona only meets 40% of the mental health care needs of our citizens. This is an alarming statistic that I’ve set out to improve on behalf of all Arizonans who can’t get appointments for treatment in a timely fashion. I sponsored SB 1062, which was signed into law this week, to replace the practice of substance abuse counseling with addition counseling to include treatment for all forms of addiction that are a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance.”
Shope added, “The bill also reduces the number of years out-of-state behavioral health professionals need to be licensed and certified in order to seek licensure from the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. It’s my belief that these small changes will have a tremendous impact in helping to meet Arizona’s growing mental health workforce needs, as well as increase access for individuals seeking treatment for all types of addiction.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Arizona LeadingAge, National Association of Social Workers Arizona Chapter, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona had signed in to support the bill. A representative from the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers signed in as neutral.
Back in February, the legislation overwhelmingly passed the Arizona Senate with a 25-5 vote. Last month, the Arizona House of Representatives approved an amended version of the bill with a 41-12 vote (with six members not voting and one seat vacant at the time). The Senate concurred with the changes, sending the bill to the Governor’s Office after a 24-5 vote (with one member not voting).
SB 1062 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 4, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican State Representative in Arizona is standing up to a recent proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Last month, Representative David Cook transmitted a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, opposing the agency’s “proposed waiver that would enable the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to mandate zero-emission standards for railroad locomotives starting in 2030,” according to his press release.
Cook explained that the EPA’s proposal would “have far-reaching effects here in Arizona, potentially upending the rail industry in our state.” Per Cook’s letter, the state’s rail industry “hauls over 125 million tons of cargo to and from the state through hubs like Tucson, Flagstaff, and the Phoenix area.” He stated that “Arizona’s economy is growing, and local and state leaders are counting on our rail network to help handle this growth.”
The Republican Chairman of the State House Transportation Committee warned that the EPA’s rule “threatens Arizona’s railways and our supply chain by imposing extreme financial and operational burdens on railroads, especially smaller operators, by requiring the retirement of over 25,000 locomotives aged 23 years or older.” He added that the mandate “would create a fragmented rail network that could jeopardize the supply chain, place an undue burden on rail companies, and drive-up costs,” leading to goods being driven away from rail and to Arizona highways, which would bring its own set of environmental issues.
Representative Cook ended his letter by asserting that “this unworkable policy in California could have major implications throughout Arizona and the country.” He urged the EPA “to reject the California waiver and protect our rail network and supply chains.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 4, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Candidate Gina Godbehere criticized her opponent, incumbent Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, for not heeding the extradition request of a murder suspect from Alvin Bragg, Democratic district attorney in New York.
Mitchell refused to extradite murder suspect Raad Almansoori, 26, expressing concern over Bragg’s ability to properly prosecute Almansoori. Almansoori was arrested in Arizona after stabbing two women; he was also the suspect in the New York murder of another woman, 38-year-old Denisse Oleas-Arancibia. Mitchell said she could guarantee Almansoori would be imprisoned for an appropriate amount of time, whereas she felt that he would not be under Bragg.
“We have two very violent crimes here, we have two women that were stabbed and he is facing a lengthy mandatory prison sentence here. And even though there’s a homicide in New York, we can guarantee that he’s going to stay in custody here,” said Mitchell. “Let me be clear, my heart goes out to the next of kin in New York, and I’m not casting aspersions on the NYPD either, they did a hard job in putting this case together, but we have a case here and we have him in custody.”
Godbehere told KFNN last month that Mitchell lacked the authority to refuse Bragg’s request.
“I have a real problem of what she did by calling out Bragg on that issue — because unless my opponent was running for governor, she has no say or no role in any of that,” said Godbehere.
Bragg’s tenure has been marked with a drop in conviction rates, due to a decline in the number of cases his office has chosen to prosecute. When the Manhattan DA first came into office in 2021, he swore to not prosecute low-level crimes such as traffic infractions, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, subway-fare evasion, or prostitution.
The DA also pledged to not imprison mentally ill individuals who committed crimes.
In one of the numerous times Bragg’s office made headlines in 2022, his team dropped multiple larceny charges against an alleged gang member with a lengthy rap sheet — 46 prior arrests — instead opting to require the member to attend a handful of social worker counseling sessions.
Godbehere is campaigning as a Republican. As reported by The Arizona Daily Independent, Godbehere’s campaign staffer has also been critical of mainstream Republican candidates and stances, and reportedly indicated that he voted for President Joe Biden.
Godbehere previously challenged Mitchell in the 2022 election. Ahead of that year’s primary election, Godbehere issued a retracted comment erroneously advising voters on the Active Early Voting List that ballots dropped off on the deadline day would be rendered provisional.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 3, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A controversial event hosted by a Democrat State Representative at the Arizona Capitol has led to consequences from the Republican House Speaker.
Earlier this week, State Representative Lorena Austin and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona hosted a Drag Story Hour in the Copper Basin Room in the House Basement.
That event was immediately met with condemnation from Republicans. Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma addressed the event on his “X” account, writing, “Democrat Rep. Lorena Austin deliberately misled House leadership to reserve a conference room to host a drag story hour with Planned Parenthood. Use of House facilities for radical activism to promote dangerously perverse ideology will not be tolerated while I am Speaker. As a result, I’ve ordered that Democrats have lost the privilege of accessing House meeting rooms until trust can be restored.”
Austin responded to the Speaker’s comments, saying, “This is the people’s House and that includes the LGBTQ+ community, whether my colleagues on the other side of the aisle like that or not. It is nothing short of ridiculous that I have been described as dishonest, deceitful and perverse and have been subjected to calls for punishment and expulsion. What is true is that I hosted a drag performer who read stories about LGBTQ+ history and inclusion. There were no minors present, but also no content that would offend a minor.”
The Democrat lawmaker added, “We were completely transparent when we reserved the room, and the content was not, or should not be, controversial. In total approximately 20 people attended (all adults) because the House is currently only conducting business on Wednesdays, and today was a Tuesday. It was educational and completely within the mission of our LGTBQ+ Caucus. I will never apologize for teaching people to be inclusive, to accept others as they are, and to stand up to hate and bigotry.”
Other Arizona state legislators weighed in on the event. Republican Representative Alexander Kolodin said, “The People’s House should be a safe place for the children of Arizona and I am outraged at this violation of trust. In addition to this punishment, also I call on leadership to bar Rep. Austin from accessing any part of the House aside from public areas and the floor.”
Democrat Representative Nancy Gutierrez stated, “Today’s event was wonderful and I was happy to attend. I appreciate Lorena Austin. It’s disgusting that this was used for political mudslinging.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 3, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A recent Arizona poll had bad news for the state’s second-year governor.
On Tuesday, Emerson College Polling published its survey of swing states in the 2024 election. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, garnered 38% approval, compared with 42% disapproval from respondents (with 20% neutral).
Hobbs’ results were some of the worst in the swing states among her fellow governors. Her approval rating was the lowest of the seven polled, and her disapproval numbers were one percentage point lower than the highest – which went to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, also a Democrat.
The swing states polled were Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The Arizona governor’s approval was two percentage points lower than President Joe Biden’s in her state. Biden obtained a 40% approval and a 51% disapproval.
Emerson College showed that former President Donald J. Trump held a four-percentage point lead in a head-to-head match-up in Arizona with current President Joseph R. Biden – 48% to 44% with eight percent of respondents undecided. When additional ballot options were added to the polling question, Trump maintained his four-point advantage in the Grand Canyon State – 44% to 40%.
Spencer Kimball, the executive director of Emerson College Polling, highlighted that “Independent voters break for Trump over Biden in Arizona (48%-38%).
The country is quickly heading toward the November 2024 election, with Arizona figuring to feature a prominent role in determining the individual who will assume the reins of the Executive Branch of the nation for the next four years. Most polls this year have shown that President Trump has built a lead over Biden in Arizona, though much time remains until the fall showdown.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 2, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Department of Education Superintendent Tom Horne advised K-12 schools to look to Arizona State University (ASU) and University of Arizona (UArizona) for how to respond to Gaza protesters.
In a press release issued on Monday following a long weekend of higher education protests against Israel in Arizona and nationwide, Horne praised ASU and UArizona leadership — specifically presidents Robert Robbins and Michael Crow — for their handling of the mass protests compared to other universities, which he characterized as antisemitic.
“Robert Robbins and Michael Crow deserve exceptional praise for standing up to antisemitism on their campuses. This stands in stark contrast to how many colleges, universities and ideological faculty members have kowtowed to disruptive pro-Hamas demonstrations,” said Horne. “It is also an excellent template for K-12 schools in Arizona to follow should any attempt be made by students to copy the type of protests that have shut down portions of college campuses and caused Jewish students to feel unsafe.”
Horne warned that history would repeat itself, should those in leadership not be proactive with handling protests. The superintendent cited several incidents of violence that broke out at other campuses nationwide, including rocks reportedly thrown at Jewish students at Columbia University and a pole with a Palestinian flag being stabbed into the eye of another Jewish student at Yale University.
“Our DNA is no different from the DNA of Germans in the 1930s, and Nazis started with young thugs attacking people on the street,” said Horne. “We need to be vigilant.”
Law enforcement for both campuses were swift to deter and move out protesters as they attempted to establish encampments.
Of the two institutions, UArizona had the calmer turnout in terms of protestors. At ASU, over 70 arrests were made, 15 of whom were students, after protesters set up an illegal encampment as part of their protest.
UArizona protesters also set up an encampment on Monday, but later dispersed. After those protesters left, officials barricaded the campus mall to prevent further encampments.
Law enforcement had to drive out the protesters and relied on assistance from fraternity members to assist in cleanup.
However, by Tuesday protesters returned to encamp again elsewhere on campus.
A majority of the Gaza protests were concentrated along the upper east coast. The following higher education institutions have experienced Gaza protests over the last few weeks:
- California: California State Polytechnic Institute, Stanford University, University of Southern California Los Angeles;
- Colorado: Auraria Campus;
- Connecticut: University of Connecticut, Yale University;
- D.C.: George Washington University;
- Delaware: University of Delaware;
- Florida: Florida State University;
- Georgia: Emory University, University of Georgia;
- Illinois: Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign;
- Indiana: Indiana University Bloomington;
- Massachusetts: Emerson College, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northeastern University, Tufts University;
- Michigan: Michigan State University;
- Minnesota: University of Minnesota;
- Missouri: Washington University.
- North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
- New Jersey: Princeton University;
- New Mexico: University of New Mexico Albuquerque;
- New York: City College of New York, Columbia University, Cornell University, Fashion Institute of Technology, the New School, New York University, University of Rochester;
- Pennsylvania: Swarthmore College, University of Pennsylvania;
- Ohio: Ohio State University;
- Rhode Island: Brown University;
- South Carolina: University of South Carolina;
- Texas: Rice University, University of Texas at Austin;
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
